Tag Archives: Boston Celtics

Anthony Davis will be available to play against the Celtics after missing the last 5 games. The Lakers are 4-1 in the last 5, the surprising loss coming to Markelle Fultz and the Orlando Magic. The Celtics are on a 3-game losing skid, 2 of those losses at home. The Lakers are still leading the West in wins now been chase by the Clippers. The Celtics are in mix of 5 teams that are within 2 games apart in the standings

The Celtics are getting Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker back, so the Celtics should be ready to give it their all. The Celtics will try to bounce back but everything seems to be against them, the 3-game losing streak and on top of the Walker’s record vs LeBron. The Celtics are also dealing with trade rumors that involves Gordon Hayward and their need/ want for a rim protector.

Getting back Davis will be the highlight for the Lakers who before going out was the leading scorer for the team averaging 27.1 Ppg. The Lakers’ are in need of more wins against team with over 500 record. The Celtics are slumped right now, and the Lakers’ could use them and kick them while they are down. Ps Walker is 0-28 vs LeBron.

The Celtics have the better record and are 2.5 games ahead of the 76ers in the East but the 76ers lead the season series. This is the 3rd game of the 4 game series and the 76ers have beaten the Celtics away and at home. Celtics come in to the game on a 2 game losing streak and playing on back to back nights. 76ers will benefit from being at home (17-2) for the 2nd game of a home stand before heading back out on the road.

It is always fun when the Celtics and 76ers play each other is kind of rivalry but most importantly a potential intense playoff series. Both of this teams have expectations to go far in the playoffs this year and both are going through some struggles. 76ers are 4-6 in their last 10 and the Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10, both need to get going. A possible factor could be the approach of the trade deadline and with all the rumors going on sometimes is just hard to stay focus.

The crazy things is that teams know each other so well and always bring their A games. Joel Embiid will miss the game, but if the 76ers can pull of a win it would definitely put some confident into the team. 76ers are 3-4 when missing Embiid.

Celtics coming off in loss in which Kemba Walker only scored 6 points before getting tossed for the 1st time in his career. The Tacko Fall hype is real and the big men got his 1st minutes of the year. Fall played 10 minutes scored 4 points, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. The Celtics project of the year is Fall and he comes as a low cost, high reward player.

Pick: Celtics.

Kemba Walker will bounce back this game and take advantage of the Embiid not being there for the 76ers.

Note: Since most Iso stats only go as far as 2016 so that is far as my research will go.

Regular season

Kyrie Irving

James Harden

2015-2016

153 possessions

145 points

59/134 = 44%

Tov freq = 6.5

EFG% = 47.4

Score freq = 44.4%

Shooting foul freq = 7.2%

566 possessions

524 points

159/430 = 37%

Tov freq % = 10.4

EFG% = 43.4

Score freq % = 41.5

Shooting foul freq = 14.8%

2016-2017

367 possessions

412 points

149/317 = 47%

EFG % = 53.2

Tov freq % = 4.6

Score freq % = 49.6

Shooting foul freq = 10.6

552 possessions

537 points

157/421 = 37.3%

EFG % 45.5%

Tov freq % = 10.3%

Score freq % = 41.1%

Shooting foul freq = 14.1%

2017-2018

210 possessions

218 points

81/184 = 44%

EFG = 50.3%

Tov freq = 4.8%

Score freq = 46.2%

Shooting foul freq = 46.2%

720 possessions

877 points

251/567 = 44.3%

EFG = 55.2%

Tov freq = 4.7%

Score freq = 51%

Shooting foul freq = 18.2%

Thoughts: In the regular season Kyrie was more EFFICIENT and took care of the ball better, however James Harden with the benefit of superstar treatment was able to draw fouls easier. Still, Kyrie has the edge in most of those categories.

Playoffs

Kyrie Irving

James Harden

2015-2016

114 possessions

96 points

38/104 = 36.5%

EFG % = 40.9%

Tov freq = 3.5%

Score freq = 38.6%

Shooting foul freq = 6.1%

32 possessions

37 points

10/20 = 50%

EFG % = 55%

Tov freq = 9.4%

Score freq = 59.4%

Shooting foul freq = 28.1%

2016-2017

141 possessions

155 points

59/123 = 48%

EFG % = 56.5%

Tov freq = 7.1%

Score freq = 47.5%

Shooting foul freq = 5.7%

77 possessions

81 points

28/61 = 45.9%

EFG % = 56.6

Tov freq = 10.4%

Score freq = 44.2%

Shooting foul freq = 13%

2017-2018

Did Not Play

220 possessions

221 points

68/175 = 38.9%

EFG % = 46.6%

Tov freq = 9.1%

Score freq = 42.3%

Shooting foul freq = 14.5%

Thoughts: Sure Kyrie got less tovs in iso in the playoffs, but Harden scored more on a higher percentage and again his craftiness helped him have a higher chance of getting fouled on isolation plays. Overall in the playoffs I would say Harden was better on iso.

Better iso player?

Note: Since most Iso stats only go as far as 2016 so that is far as my research will go.

Regular season

Kyrie Irving

James Harden

2015-2016

153 possessions

145 points

59/134 = 44%

Tov freq = 6.5

EFG% = 47.4

Score freq = 44.4%

Shooting foul freq = 7.2%

566 possessions

524 points

159/430 = 37%

Tov freq % = 10.4

EFG% = 43.4

Score freq % = 41.5

Shooting foul freq = 14.8%

2016-2017

367 possessions

412 points

149/317 = 47%

EFG % = 53.2

Tov freq % = 4.6

Score freq % = 49.6

Shooting foul freq = 10.6

552 possessions

537 points

157/421 = 37.3%

EFG % 45.5%

Tov freq % = 10.3%

Score freq % = 41.1%

Shooting foul freq = 14.1%

2017-2018

210 possessions

218 points

81/184 = 44%

EFG = 50.3%

Tov freq = 4.8%

Score freq = 46.2%

Shooting foul freq = 46.2%

720 possessions

877 points

251/567 = 44.3%

EFG = 55.2%

Tov freq = 4.7%

Score freq = 51%

Shooting foul freq = 18.2%

Thoughts: In the regular season Kyrie was more EFFICIENT and took care of the ball better, however James Harden with the benefit of superstar treatment was able to draw fouls easier. Still, Kyrie has the edge in most of those categories.

Playoffs

Kyrie Irving

James Harden

2015-2016

114 possessions

96 points

38/104 = 36.5%

EFG % = 40.9%

Tov freq = 3.5%

Score freq = 38.6%

Shooting foul freq = 6.1%

32 possessions

37 points

10/20 = 50%

EFG % = 55%

Tov freq = 9.4%

Score freq = 59.4%

Shooting foul freq = 28.1%

2016-2017

141 possessions

155 points

59/123 = 48%

EFG % = 56.5%

Tov freq = 7.1%

Score freq = 47.5%

Shooting foul freq = 5.7%

77 possessions

81 points

28/61 = 45.9%

EFG % = 56.6

Tov freq = 10.4%

Score freq = 44.2%

Shooting foul freq = 13%

2017-2018

Did Not Play

220 possessions

221 points

68/175 = 38.9%

EFG % = 46.6%

Tov freq = 9.1%

Score freq = 42.3%

Shooting foul freq = 14.5%

Thoughts: Sure Kyrie got less tovs in iso in the playoffs, but Harden scored more on a higher percentage and again his craftiness helped him have a higher chance of getting fouled on isolation plays. Overall in the playoffs I would say Harden was better on iso.

2015, 2016, 2017 and now 2018 the Cavaliers will face the Warriors in the NBA finals. The King of the East vs the strongest the West have to offer. Are we tired? We say we are tired, but we are not tired. The NBA finals have been taking a page out of Batman’s script and given us not what we want, but what we deserve. The Celtics only home game loss came when it counted the most. James Harden, Chris Paul and Mike D’Antoni all got exposed when it counted the most. So here we are again.

The Celtics and the Rockets were the teams that were built to stop this dynasty by LeBron James and the Warriors (Yes, they are a dynasty). Both failed or did they? Let’s be honest, this what the NBA really wants it to be. Maybe the scales would have tilted if Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Chris Paul would have been at 100% but the result would have been the same.

LeBron James will face his biggest test yet in his chase of “the number 23”. The world of basketball and sports in this period in time is about LeBron James. For example baseball game Astros vs Yankees; Aaron Judge steps up to the plate; announcer introduces Judge to the plate 6’7, 280 pounds; 2nd announcer says oh wow thought you were talking about LeBron James, who just led the Cavaliers over Boston last night (not exactly quoted, it went something like that). King James is not just basketball, his legacy and dominance in sports is undeniable.

For the Warriors it is about creating and winning with a new brand of basketball. The Houston Rockets are a product of the Warriors. The Nuggets are the best example of trying to mimic the Warriors. Just as with many copies or replicas they are not as good as the original formula. The Warriors 3-game is perfection, they succeed in the 3rd with their 3 Point shooting, chasing their 3rd championship, 3 of the best 3 point shooters in the league. The Warriors really live and die by the 3.

Are you ready now? On May 2nd I asked if we should be preparing for another Cavs Vs Warriors series. Ready or not is here. The game plans are simple, for the Cavs give the ball LeBron and for the Warriors is unleashed Curry in the 3rd quarter.

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